Microwave Gets Cooking With Two Feature Films Going Into Production

'Mum and Dad' and 'Shady' (working title), have been selected as the first two projects to go into production as part of Film London’s micro-budget feature film scheme, Microwave.
Launched earlier this year, 71 applications were received for the initial round of the Microwave scheme, from which eleven short-listed film-making teams participated in Microschool, a three-day intensive programme of seminars and workshops, ending with a final pitching session to select the successful projects.
A short development period to polish scripts and work on budget and schedules will now follow, with films expected to go into production before the end of the year. Bespoke training sessions will continue throughout the production process based on the individual needs of teams, with top-level mentors providing personal support and career advice.
Steven Sheil, Writer/Director of Mum and Dad said: “We're really happy to have been chosen as one of the first Microwave projects - especially with a horror film, because it's a genre that has always embraced a low-budget ethos. Mum and Dad was conceived and developed with Microwave in mind when writing the script. It's going to be a film that creates horror out of the ordinary and really perverts a lot of the elements that are at the heart of British family life. We're really looking forward to making it and to working with Film London to make the scheme a success."
Eran Creevy, Writer/Director of Shady (working title) said: “This is an incredible opportunity to start our careers as feature film-makers, with invaluable training and support throughout the process. We have developed a clear vision of our project which is now well thought out both from a business and creative perspective. The battle to make your first feature is massive and having Film London’s support along the road is going to be brilliant. Now we just have to deliver a great film.”
Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London added: “We are very excited to see the first films take shape through the Microwave scheme. The selected projects embrace the unique and ground-breaking outlook of Microwave to low-budget film-making, combining creative scripts and flair with an entrepreneurial approach and a financially viable product.”
The second call for applications to the Microwave scheme will be in early 2007.
(DS)